Just a few years ago I got a call from a couple that I had already worked for in San Francisco and the Big Island of Hawaii. They were interested in purchasing another home on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. They were considering one house that they felt was a good fit, and asked me to fly down to take a close look at it. I was more than happy to oblige…

The house was less than compelling to me. Although it possessed a fantastic view, it lacked so much in architectural integrity that even the best interior renovation could not fully succeed. Of course I was honest with them and we toured a couple of other options with a local realtor.

The property that excited me the most was a dreadfully dated, ghastly 1970’s condominium. It was dark, dreary and oh-so-ready for the proverbial gut job. What it did offer were 3,000 square feet spread over 3 floors — nearly every room was blessed with gorgeous views of the lake or the beautiful grounds.

In general, Lake Tahoe interior design most often combines a repetitious, stereotypical array of icons. There are poorly carved bears everywhere, an over abundance of river rock fireplaces and sentimental woodsy cuteness that verges on the revolting!

Now don’t get me wrong, I can groove on a lodgey theme and have in several mountainous projects. But with such distinctive views that include live bears right outside the windows, why beat a theme over the head? My modern approach is simple: Take the beautiful palette that nature has provided and bring it inside. With an attentive eye, one can see a few of the region’s icons reinterpreted in my work. For instance, I designed custom screens out of pine needles cast into resin panels that flank the fireplace. Above the fireplace is a nod to a traditional deer head (though my choice is sans fur in favor of a glossy ceramic). Rich textures, elegant materials, and warm colors invite a soul to linger and soak up the experience.

Take a look at more photographs from this project.